Summer Camps for Children: How to Choose

As the school year comes to a close, finding something to keep your children occupied during the summer is essential. Camp is a way for your child to continue learning while also incorporating fun activities into the schedule. It is also an additional way to socialize outside of a school environment. There are camps tailored to interests such as music, space, dance, and sports. General versions of summer camps also exist to allow for a wider variety of activities. The question is, how do you choose one? Ekata Training Center, who offers a summer camp in Santa Clarita, has shared the most important things to know when making this decision.

What Keeps Your Child Engaged?

Through the year, you should take note of what your child is responsive to. Whether this is an activity or a topic of learning, choosing a summer camp based on an active interest is going to result in the best experience. If you need some additional resources, you can ask your child’s school teacher which subjects have been prominent in the classroom. Once you have an idea of this, you can begin some research on camps that meet the criteria in your area. Think about if you are seeking something local or if you would be willing to drive a long distance each morning. Camps normally operate the same as schools, starting early in the morning and ending in the late afternoon.

Age is also going to play a role in the decision-making process. If you have a very young child, it is probably best to pick a camp that is more focused on fun than learning. Younger children have a tendency to get bored easily, and might even become homesick. Remember, keep the idea of camp fun! For children that are mature enough, science and space camps are a great option. Several experiments are done each day, with live results that your child can learn from. For those who are more artistic, take a look at dance and art camps. These programs will be like an extended lesson, teaching various genres throughout the day.

Should You Choose a Day Camp or an Overnight Camp?

Deciding on whether you should send your child to a day camp or overnight camp is a big choice to make. The main factor here involves the comfort level of your child. If homesickness is likely to occur, you might find yourself with an early pick-up at an overnight camp. Regardless of age, all children have different levels of comfort. Talk about the idea and see which one seems to elicit a more exciting response. If you need to, start with a day camp this year and then you can decide on an overnight one next year. Children usually work up to it this way. The average age to begin staying overnight is between seven and nine.

As mentioned, their maturity level is really going to come into play. Your child might not be ready for the overnight experience at 10 years old, but that is okay. Another misconception is that all overnight camps are week-long experiences. Nowadays, there are some that only last for a few days at a time, allowing children to experience staying away from home without causing too much homesickness. This could be a transitional option before deciding on a long-term overnight camp. At the end of the day, this decision is really going to be about your child’s needs and wants.

How Much Can You Expect to Spend?

Being realistic, selecting an overnight camp is not going to come with a small price tag. The average price is anywhere from $700 to $800 per week. This also varies based on the nature of the camp and the area you are located in. While this is a feasible option for some families, it can often be unaffordable for others. If you know that your child is set on having the overnight camp experience, there are ways that you can make this happen by the time summer approaches. It will take planning and possibly a bit of creativity. Aside from saving up the money during the months prior, you can also try ways to raise money for the tuition. This can happen in the form of a lemonade stand or a bake sale.

For day camps, the average price falls between $40 and $300 per day. This is a much broader spectrum due to the fact that there are countless options as to which activities are offered. If your child has never been to camp before and does not know what kind would be of interest, a traditional option with a good ratio of counselors to children would be a safe bet. These are the kind that normally fall under the $100 price point. Make sure that you are getting the best value for your money. Consider how many activities are provided for the amount of tuition charged.